Secret Societies

Throughout history, certain organizations have been shrouded in mystery. The secrecy of these groups can often lead people to mistrust and become afraid of them. While not all groups have good intentions,the secret rituals of these orders are often evidenced to be little more than social or spiritual ceremonies. Dating back to the Crusades with the Knights Templar and extending to modern day with the Skull and Bones, secret societies have been an object of fascination for many. Surprising links between the groups have also cropped up. Read on to find out what is really behind these secret groups.

The Knights of Templar

Symbol of the Knights Templar

While the origins of this group are unclear, it is generally believed that they were formed in the early 12th century by Hughes de Payens and Godfrey de Saint-Omer. The order was created during the Crusades under the pretense of protecting Christian pilgrims on their journeys to Jerusalem. For the first nine years of its existence the order only had nine members. While some speculate that the knights wanted to keep their search for buried treasure secret, others believe that they were unable to recruit new members due to unpopularity. The knights became better known when abbot Bernard of Clairvaux wrote a letter praising the knights and attracting many new recruits. The Knights Templar were founded with no intention of making wealth, in fact their symbol of two knights on one horse is a sign of poverty. Despite this, the Templar treasure has become legendary. Many historians believe that the Knights discovered the lost treasure of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. They were able to increase this initial wealth through investments in the west, as well as donations from aristocrat members. In 1307, Phillip the Fair had the Knights Templar arrested and tortured. They confessed to heretical crimes, including spitting on the cross. Pope Clement V dissolved the order officially in 1312. Though the knights were not found guilty, he believed that their reputation was so devastated that it was better to just get rid of them. Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake in 1314 for recanting his confession. He allegedly cursed Phillip the Fair and Pope Clement V to follow him to their graves within the year, which they both did. While this was the official end of the organization, there have been alleged up-croppings of the group.

Illuminati

Adam Weishaupt-Illuminati founder

On May 1, 1776, Adam Weishaupt, a professor at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Germany, founded the Order of the Illuminati. He was influenced by the Philosophes, French writers of the Enlightenment who popularized anti-Christian sentiment, such as Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot. The Illuminati were able to attract many members through the proclamation that their goal was to promote peace and provide charity. Members who wanted more commitment were made Illuminatus Minors, who were then told the true objective of the order, to create universal happiness through destruction of existing religious and government organizations. If the member did not accept these values, he was made inactive until his values could be changed. If a member proved his devotion to the order, he was made an Illuminatus Major. By this stage, he would know the true dream of the Illuminati was to rule the world. In the ceremony to promote the member, he would be required to pledge an oath to follow every order of the Illuminati leaders. The "Insinuating Brethren" were the secret police of the group, who's job it was to spy on other members and make sure that they were following orders. Anyone in danger of revealing the organization to authorities was killed. Throughout the 18th century the group spread throughout the upper classes of Germany society, inducting members in powerful positions and increasing the power of the Order. In 1782, the Order was able to infiltrate Freemasonry and bring many of the lodges under Illuminati control. It is suspected that the Illuminati played a large role in the French Revolution, with many of its leaders belonging to the Order, including Robespierre, Danton, Mirabeau, Marat, and the Duke of Orleans. The Order of the Illuminati is thought to have branched off into the Communist party, as well as been the founders of nationalistic revolutions in Germany, Italy and Slavic Eastern Europe.

Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones Members- 1947

Founded in 1832, by William Russell and Alphonso Taft, at Yale University, this fraternity like organization supposedly has its roots in a German university society dating back to that time. A list of members in the group had been published up to 1970, when the list became a secret. Three U.S. presidents have been members, including William Howard Taft (son of Alphonso), George H.W. Bush (pictured here, left of the clock) and George W. Bush. At least 28 U.S. Congressman have been in the organization. The society includes only seniors, and has allegedly included women since 1992. Prospective members are tapped on the back or shoulder at the end of junior year. Consideration for membership factors in family name, wealth and power, as well as the candidates personality, with political, resourceful and active being important qualities. Due to the high profile of its members and the secret nature of its practices, the club has received media attention. However, there is little evidence that it is more than a fraternity for the up and coming wealthiest and most powerful class.

Freemasonry

Freemason symbol- square and compass

Like many of these secret societies, the origins of freemasonry are shrouded in mystery. The organization predates ancient Egypt and Mason lore states that the society goes all the way back to the construction of the biblical Tower of Babel and King Solomon's Temple of Jerusalem. It was originally a group of stone masons, which is the origin of the name, and its early members placed great value on geometry, the foundation of architecture. Its symbol, the square and compass, show these origins. The name Freemasons was first assumed by a guild of architects in northern Italy. The name is a shortened version of the fraternal Order of Free and Accepted Masons, with the "accepted" referring to members that weren't stone masons. Other historians believe that the Masons evolved from the Knights Templar during the Crusades. In 1717 the ritual and constitutions of Freemasonry were officially written up, which incorporated ancient Egyptian, Judaic, and Pythagorean doctrines. Masonry spread from England and Scotland to France in 1720, and with it spread throughout the world with the quickly expanding British Empire. After numerous clashes with the Roman Catholic Church, the Masons allowed members from all religions to join in 1723. There are an estimated six million Freemasons active today, with nearly 100,000 lodges worldwide. Masonry organization includes three basic lodges. The Blue Lodge is the beginning step, with three degrees within its hierarchy. The York Rite contains ten degrees and the Scottish Rite has a total of thirty-two degrees. The thirty-third degree represents the human head above the thirty-three vertebrae of the spine. Only the highest members know the true goal's and secrets of the group. The majority of members do not know the true doctrine of the elite inner circle and are not even made aware of its existence.